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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/2/2011 4:46:39 PM Home School Legal Defense Association High School Math: How Does It Add Up for You? |
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#=====---------------------------------------------------------------- HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru High School Newsletter June 2011--High School Math: How Does It Add Up for You? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---[ College Credit for High School Students ]------------------------ Patrick Henry College Preparatory Academy offers AP courses with a Christian worldview. HSLDA members receive a large discount. View the PHC Prep course lineup today! http://www.hslda.org/alink.asp?ID=362 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends, If you are graduating a senior this month, congratulations! It's a milestone in your teen's life, but also an achievement in your life, too. We appreciate the time and effort you've invested in your teen, and we pray that the Lord blesses you both in this next season. (Watch for an upcoming article in HSLDA's Court Report magazine that will provide ideas and reflections on life after homeschooling.) For those of you continuing to teach high school in September, it's likely that you are in the midst of choosing the subjects you will teach. In previous newsletters, we've discussed high school English, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11405 , science http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11406 , foreign language http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11407 , and history http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11408 . In this edition of the newsletter, we'll cover everyone's favorite subject - math! Are those groans we hear? For some homeschool parents, high school math is a bother, irritation, or blight. Strong words for such an innocuous subject. Let us help by suggesting another perspective of math in light of the benefits, resources and supplements, and teaching options available. Why Study Math? Dealing with numbers is part of everyone's life from counting change, to telling time, to calculating square footage for a new carpet, to doubling the measurements of ingredients in a recipe, to figuring out a grade point average. Remind your teens that people in all walks of life use math - real estate agents who calculate principal and interest, economists who deal with trends and projections, machinists who calibrate tools, or construction workers who read blueprints and make scale conversions. Even those aspiring to be moms will use math in budgeting, comparison shopping, and putting that meal on the table! Math is a core high school subject, and its relevance crosses over into other subject areas. It has been called the language of science. History dates and timelines use math to show us when events happened and their relation to one another. Ever think of math as poetry? Albert Einstein said, "Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas." God designed the universe to follow patterns and paths that can be measured and studied. Whether your teen is tackling polynomial division, simplifying fractions, or solving an equation for "x," math requires that he makes use of an orderly, logical system of rules. For example, geometry proofs teach your teen that every step must have a reason and that a correct sequence of steps validates propositions. Help your teen to notice that he follows a similar procedure when brainstorming and writing an essay or when conducting a science experiment. What Math Courses Should Be Taken? Now that you are convinced of the need for math, the next question is what courses to study? In a typical high school program, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and geometry are the foundational math courses that serve as building blocks for further courses. If your teen plans to enlist in the military or enter the workforce directly after high school, consider adding a practical math course such as consumer math. It will provide useful skills in real life situations such as buying a car, budgeting, and investing. For those of you with budding entrepreneurs, an accounting course may also be beneficial. College-bound students who are targeting majors in a science or engineering-related field should plan to study advanced math courses such as Pre-Calculus/Trig and Calculus. Since the college entrance tests (SAT and ACT) include higher level math concepts than those covered in algebra and geometry, all teens applying to college should consider additional math courses. In addition, using SAT or ACT prep resources will keep the math skills fresh, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11409 and aid your teen to score higher on these tests. It is helpful to note that math skills are important when choosing the timing of science courses in order to meet the needed prerequisites and to do well in chemistry and physics. We suggest that Algebra 1 be completed prior to taking a chemistry course and that Algebra 2 be completed before attempting a physics course. How Will I Teach Math? If math did not come easy to you when you were in high school, teaching your teen's math courses may be a great opportunity to have another chance to make sense of the subject! Buy the teacher's guides, answer keys, and solutions manual so that you'll have everything you need to fully grasp the concepts. Many homeschool math curriculum publishers provide help lines that put you in touch with an expert who can offer you assistance when needed. Some math curriculum offers the opportunity to purchase instructional CDs or DVDs for your teen to watch independently or with you. Because math is an incremental subject with topics building on one another, you'll want to be sure that you take time to slow down and explain any concept that your teen does not understand. It also helps to do math consistently (each school day!) rather than tackling the subject in bits and pieces. Give your teen plenty of practice by assigning a good number of problems to keep his skills sharp, but don't overburden him by an undue amount of busywork. For example, if he has proven his ability to add vectors, then one or two practice problems may be all that is needed. Teaching one on one allows you the flexibility to adapt the curriculum to your teen's needs. If individual circumstances warrant, you may want to check out alternatives to a parent-taught math course. A wide variety of online math courses http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11410 are available that provide not only instruction, but also evaluation of tests, and personal help for times when your teen doesn't understand a concept. Correspondence schools many times allow you to choose individual courses in addition to taking a whole slate of high school courses. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11411 Another alternative would be to hire a private tutor to help your teen keep on track in his math course, or to enlist the help of a family member or neighbor as a resource for math questions. Other sources for tutors include homeschool moms who have graduated their last child, homeschooled graduates, private tutoring agencies, retirees, or former teachers who are now raising their own children but are in need of some extra money - or barter for some child care on occasion! Community colleges and high school departments at some colleges offer high school level math courses. If your teen chooses to enroll in a college level math course while still in high school (dual enrollment), the college may require a math placement test. The results of these tests provide helpful information in knowing if your teen has the skills to succeed in the course. What Curriculum Should I Choose? Let the array of math curriculum remind you that you have choices and there is no "one size fits all." In fact, math publishers often approach the subject from different perspectives, so view this in a positive light rather than becoming disconcerted to find that a friend's math book covers topics in a different order - or does not cover a topic at all. One curriculum may teach math in a cut-and-dry manner that appeals to some, while another uses a more creative approach. If there are doubts, check out the credentials of the authors, read reviews in homeschool catalogs or at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11412 , and choose a curriculum that mirrors your philosophy. Where Can I Locate Math Curricula? The HSLDA high school website, while by no means exhaustive, gives you a starting place to explore various math curricula, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11413 . This listing also contains supplemental math resources such as Khan Academy where you can view thousands of short videos explaining many different math concepts - for free! http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11414 Another source for courses is from complete curriculum providers who offer a wide variety of choices. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11415 A teen who is fascinated by math may want to independently study some higher level math courses such as statistics by using free open courseware from MIT and other organizations. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11416 Another option for challenging math courses is Advanced Placement courses. These are available for both calculus and statistics. Taking an Advanced Placement course provides your teen the ability to prove that he can complete college level work while giving a boost to her grade point average. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11417 http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11418 Final Thoughts on Math Math takes brainpower, so choose carefully when you schedule it during the day.Tackle the subject in the morning if your teen is an early riser, or perhaps save the subject for later in the day if your teen tends to learn better in the afternoon when the cobwebs start to clear. Math may be an area in which you see yourself as desperate. That's a good place to be. The Lord may be stretching you to trust Him with areas that are difficult for you. Pray for wisdom, humbly ask for assistance when needed, and have faith that nothing is impossible - for you and the Lord. Next month, join us as Elizabeth Smith shares her thoughts from a recent homeschool high school graduation. Her words will inspire you to keep going and to remember that the Lord is involved in all of your efforts to teach your teens at home. May the Lord multiply (!) your blessings this month, Becky Cooke and Diane Kummer HSLDA High School Consultants June 3-4, 2011--LEAH, Rochester, NY (Becky) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10798 June 10-11, 2011--TEACH, Bloomfield, CT (Diane) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10799 New Addition! June 24, 2011--HSLDA High School at Home: The Basics (Diane) Purcellville, VA http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484 New Addition! July 29, 2011-- High School at Home: The Next Step (Becky) Purcellville, VA http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484 September 9-10, 2011--HOME, Greenville, NC (Becky) September 17, 2011--HSLDA High School at Home: The Basics (Becky) Purcellville, VA http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484 October 1, 2011-- GRHE, Roanoke, VA (Becky & Diane) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10800 October 29, 2011-- High School at Home: The Next Step (Diane) Purcellville, VA http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many news articles did you read this morning over your oatmeal? We live in a world where concise information presented at the right time can make a big difference in the outcome of important legislative efforts. Yet it's tough to keep up with all the issues that affect you. HSLDA does this for you in the areas that affect your homeschool. Our emails and website enable you to take quick, decisive action. 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